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Description

Film on CD

For nearly a decade, the Carolina born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter has been honing his process of turning personal experience, conversations and even dreams into songs that coax it's hearers into seeing the world from a different vantage. The term 'Alternative Folk' has been used to describe the young performer as a result of his unorthodox approach to songwriting and his intense, unpredictable concerts. With influences ranging from Bobby Bare and Towns Van Zandt to Wilco and The Velvet Underground, Jey has stomped, strummed and passionately sang his tunes countless times across the U.S. with a six-string and several blues harps, playing everywhere from coffee houses and campgrounds to churches, street corners and rehab centers. As a kid, the young artist was influenced by his dad's records which included Neil Young, Bob Dylan and the Beatles. After receiving encouragement for some poems he wrote in a high school writing class, Jey began fusing his love for words with the music he started playing on an old, Harmony acoustic guitar. By the time he was 20, Jey had written and recorded several insightful songs while fronting a handful of garage bands that played out wherever and whenever they were invited. In the late 90's, the young roots-rocker headed to a Bible college with plans of studying to be a minister. 'Ever since I was a small child, I always sensed the providential call and hand of God upon my life,' reflects Jey. 'So when it was time to go and get a degree, I naturally thought that that was the road I should go down, but halfway through school I began to see that I wasn't cut out for that type of work. I thought maybe I should serve others through my songs because I saw a strong response to that.' While Jey's deep-rooted spiritual beliefs comprise much of the thematic backbone of his work, he is quick to point out that he doesn't run with an agenda.'I figure I'm on this planet for a certain period of time so I'd better make the most of it. I think the measure of success is in how well you've loved, not how many you've 'won over'.' Upon graduating, Jey moved to Nashville after being persuaded by his close friend and booking agent that Nashville was a great place to get to know other artists and to grow as a songwriter. In the end, he was right. It was there that a copy of his self-produced 'Lowered Wings EP' was handed to an A&R at a new indie label in town called Thrift Store Records. In September of 2006, a contract was signed and production began on Nathan's debut record entitled 'Film', a folk-rock record with a diverse collection of songs written from 1996 to 2006. Introspective and poetic, Jey's lyrics reveal a transparent abandonment, cutting deep beneath the surface to reveal his own disapointments, questions, convictions, joys and sorrows. Jey frequently spotlights broken and disoriented characters searching for significance in a shallow, celebrity obsessed world. Jey adds, 'If I was the only person on earth, I'd still have to write these songs because, first and foremost, I write 'em for me. If I'm being totally honest with myself, I think others will be able to relate to those feelings.' With plans to record more 'band' records in the future, Jey will continue to tour by himself but will gladly take along a couple of friends to cover slide guitar, piano and percussion whenever possible. Currently, Nathan Jey is married and resides just east of downtown Nashville where he continues to write and record his distinct blend of acoustic flavored roots music.

For nearly a decade, the Carolina born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter has been honing his process of turning personal experience, conversations and even dreams into songs that coax it's hearers into seeing the world from a different vantage. The term 'Alternative Folk' has been used to describe the young performer as a result of his unorthodox approach to songwriting and his intense, unpredictable concerts. With influences ranging from Bobby Bare and Towns Van Zandt to Wilco and The Velvet Underground, Jey has stomped, strummed and passionately sang his tunes countless times across the U.S. with a six-string and several blues harps, playing everywhere from coffee houses and campgrounds to churches, street corners and rehab centers. As a kid, the young artist was influenced by his dad's records which included Neil Young, Bob Dylan and the Beatles. After receiving encouragement for some poems he wrote in a high school writing class, Jey began fusing his love for words with the music he started playing on an old, Harmony acoustic guitar. By the time he was 20, Jey had written and recorded several insightful songs while fronting a handful of garage bands that played out wherever and whenever they were invited. In the late 90's, the young roots-rocker headed to a Bible college with plans of studying to be a minister. 'Ever since I was a small child, I always sensed the providential call and hand of God upon my life,' reflects Jey. 'So when it was time to go and get a degree, I naturally thought that that was the road I should go down, but halfway through school I began to see that I wasn't cut out for that type of work. I thought maybe I should serve others through my songs because I saw a strong response to that.' While Jey's deep-rooted spiritual beliefs comprise much of the thematic backbone of his work, he is quick to point out that he doesn't run with an agenda.'I figure I'm on this planet for a certain period of time so I'd better make the most of it. I think the measure of success is in how well you've loved, not how many you've 'won over'.' Upon graduating, Jey moved to Nashville after being persuaded by his close friend and booking agent that Nashville was a great place to get to know other artists and to grow as a songwriter. In the end, he was right. It was there that a copy of his self-produced 'Lowered Wings EP' was handed to an A&R at a new indie label in town called Thrift Store Records. In September of 2006, a contract was signed and production began on Nathan's debut record entitled 'Film', a folk-rock record with a diverse collection of songs written from 1996 to 2006. Introspective and poetic, Jey's lyrics reveal a transparent abandonment, cutting deep beneath the surface to reveal his own disapointments, questions, convictions, joys and sorrows. Jey frequently spotlights broken and disoriented characters searching for significance in a shallow, celebrity obsessed world. Jey adds, 'If I was the only person on earth, I'd still have to write these songs because, first and foremost, I write 'em for me. If I'm being totally honest with myself, I think others will be able to relate to those feelings.' With plans to record more 'band' records in the future, Jey will continue to tour by himself but will gladly take along a couple of friends to cover slide guitar, piano and percussion whenever possible. Currently, Nathan Jey is married and resides just east of downtown Nashville where he continues to write and record his distinct blend of acoustic flavored roots music.